Silk
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Silk is an expensive luxury fabric, made from the cocoons of certain caterpillars. Typically, only nobles and wealthy merchants can afford silks, poorer people wear cotton.[1] Silk is used to make clothing, but can also be used in luxury furnishings and furniture, etc.[2]
Contents
Production and trade
In Westeros, wealthy lords from Sunspear to Winterfell can obtain silk through long-distance trade. In Essos, magisters and lords from the Free Cities to Slaver's Bay wear silk,[3] and even the Dothraki accept a few silk items as tribute.[4]
Silk-exporting regions that have been mentioned include:
- Qarth: during one of his voyages to the east, Corlys Velaryon loaded up his ships at Qarth with silks and spices.[5]
- The Jade Sea: While in Volantis, Quentyn Martell remarks that few merchant ships from Westeros come as far east as the city, and those who do fill up their holds with silks and spices originating from the Jade Sea, then return home.[6]
- Naath: the island of Naath used to export shimmering silk fabrics, reaching markets in King's Landing and the Free Cities. After the Doom of Valyria, however, increased slaver-raids nearly destroyed Naath's silk industry.[7]
In Essos, an overland route exists called the Silk Road, originating in the mountain passes of the Bone Mountains. The trade flowing west through these passes consists of caravans from Yi Ti.[8]
Culture
Lady of Silk is a war galley of the royal fleet.[9] Silken Spirit is a Myrish galley.[10] Silken Cloud is a galley owned by Xaro Xhoan Daxos.[11]
The Street of Silk in King's Landing is known for its brothels of varying expense.[12][13]
The sigil of House Piper depicts a pink dancing maiden in a swirl of white silk.[14][15]
The song Oh, Lay My Sweet Lass Down in the Grass contains the following lyrics: "I'll dress you all in yellow silk".[16]
The men of Qarth wear beaded silk skirts.[17]
The city guards of Astapor wear yellow silk cloak with copper disks sewn into it.[18]
The High Hall of the Eyrie has a blue silk carpet on its floor.[19]
History
The Targaryen Lords of Dragonstone before the Conquest often gifted the mothers of their dragonseed bastards with gold, silk and land.[20]
Queen Visenya Targaryen was said to be as comfortable in ringmail as in silk.[21]
With the help of his master of coin, Rego Draz, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen passed taxes on silk in 50 AC.[22]
Mance Rayder was attacked by a shadowcat while ranging, and was healed by a wildling woman, a wisewoman's daughter. While he recuperated, she mended his torn cloak with swatches of red silk.[23]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Daenerys Targaryen wears a deep plum gown made of silk that brings out the violet in her eyes when she meets Khal Drogo for the first time.[3]
King Robert I Baratheon's pavilion during the Hand's Tourney is made of golden silk.[24]
The roof of Khal Drogo's "palace" in Vaes Dothrak is made of silk.[25][26]
Arya Stark throws an orange at her sister, Sansa Stark, ruining her ivory silk dress in the process.[27] Sansa later dyes the dress black to hide the stains.[28]
Varys compares Stannis and Renly Baratheon to an iron gauntlet and a silk glove respectively.[29]
Mirri Maz Duur closes the wound of Khal Drogo with silk thread.[30]
A Clash of Kings
Renly Baratheon's pavilion is made of green silk.[31][32] The members of the Rainbow Guard wear rainbow-striped silk cloaks.[31]
Daenerys receives the traditional blue silk slippers summoning her to the Hall of a Thousand Thrones.[33]
Old Lord Gyles Rosby often coughs into a square of scarlet silk trimmed with golden lace.[34][35]
A Storm of Swords
After the Battle of the Blackwater, Sansa Stark keeps Sandor Clegane's stained kingsguard cloak hidden in a cedar chest beneath her summer silks.[36]
Arya remembers Syrio Forel teaching her to be smooth as summer silk.[37]
Tyrion Lannister waits outside of King's Landing for the arrival of Prince Doran Martell in his carved litter which is said to have silk hangings, and suns on the drapes. However, Doran has sent his brother, Prince Oberyn, in his stead. Tyrion remarks that Oberyn wears a cloak of pale red silk.[38]
During the wedding of King Joffrey I Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell, Lord Mathis Rowan gives them a red silk tourney pavilion,[39] dancers from the Summer Isles wear robes made of bright feathers and smoky silk, and the bride wears ivory silk and Myrish lace, and skirts decorated with floral patterns picked out in seed pearls.[40]
Owners of silk clothing
- Alayaya: green silk[41]
- Arya Stark[42][43]
- Arys Oakheart: white silk cloak[34]
- Belwas: a yellow silk bellyband[44][45]
- Bronn: cloak of pale green silk[46]
- Cersei Lannister: a gown of sea-green silk[47], a high-collared black silk gown with rubies[48]
- Chataya[49]
- Daenerys Targaryen: a deep plum gown[3], sleeping silks[2], robe of purple silk[33], a Qartheen gown made of deep violet silk[50]
- Eddard Stark[51][52]
- Falyse Stokeworth: gown of turquoise silk and vair[35]
- Illyrio Mopatis: flame-colored loose garments[3]
- Jaime Lannister: crimson silk[53]
- Jon Snow[54]
- Kraznys mo Nakloz: sea-green silk[18]
- Lancel Lannister: black silk undersleeves[41]
- Lollys Stokeworth: gown of turquoise silk and vair[35]
- Loras Tyrell: pale blue silk[55]
- Lysa Arryn: black silk with pearls[56]
- Melisandre: red silk gown[57][58][59]
- Meryn Trant: white silk glove[60]
- Monford Velaryon: sea-green silk[57]
- Mysaria: a hooded robe of black velvet lined with blood-red silk[61]
- Oberyn Martell: cloak of pale red silk[38]
- Oznak zo Pahl: silk cloak[45]
- Petyr Baelish: a grey silk cloak trimmed with black fox[62]
- Rego Draz: silken robes[22]
- Robert I Baratheon[1]
- Sansa Stark: blue silks[63], ivory dress[27], sky-blue silk dress[64], green silk gown[60], gown of pale purple silk[34], blue silk gown[65]
- Shae: purple silk[66]
- Tanda Stokeworth: gown of turquoise silk and vair[35]
- Timeon: red silk scarf[67]
- Tymond Lannister[68]
- Tyrion Lannister: a cloak of crimson silk fringed in gold[49]
- Varys: purple gown[69], robe of peach-colored silk[70]
- Visenya Targaryen[21]
- Viserys Targaryen: scarlet silks[26]
- "Little" Walder Frey[71]
Quotes
Cast off your silks and satins, and clothe your nakedness in roughspun robes. Throw away your shoes, and walk barefoot through the world, as the Father made you.[72]
A knight's a sword with a horse. The rest, the vows and the sacred oils and the lady's favors, they're silk ribbons tied round the sword. Maybe the sword's prettier with ribbons hanging off it, but it will kill you just as dead. Well, bugger your ribbons, and shove your swords up your arses. I'm the same as you. The only difference is, I don't lie about what I am. So kill me, but don't call me a murderer while you stand there telling each other that your shit don't stink. You hear me?[73]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 23, Daenerys III.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 54, Daenerys VI.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Naath.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 58, Davos III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 63, Daenerys V.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 16, Daenerys III.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 8, Jaime I.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 65, Arya XII.
- ↑ The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses in the Riverlands
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 22, Arya IV.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 27, Daenerys II.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Fire & Blood, Aegon's Conquest.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 7, Jon I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 36, Daenerys IV.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 46, Daenerys V.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 44, Sansa III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 61, Daenerys VII.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 2, Sansa I.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 6, Sansa I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 13, Arya II.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 59, Sansa IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 29, Tyrion VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 10, Jon II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 22, Arya II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 8, Daenerys I.
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 57, Daenerys V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 4, Tyrion I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 49, Eddard XIV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 51, Sansa IV.
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 15, Tyrion III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 27, Daenerys III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 25, Eddard V.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 5, Jon I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 60, Jon VIII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 5, Davos I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 67, Sansa VI.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 33, Eddard VIII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 15, Sansa I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 32, Sansa III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 44, Tyrion X.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 21, Jaime III.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 12, Tyrion II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 34, Arya VI.